Woman Beside the Man Rachel Hinton!
Seriously. Can someone please tell me if there is another PW in the world as adorable as Rachel Hinton? And look at that baby?! I love that she exudes joy in ministry and I can promise you – if we lived closer – I’d be hanging out with this darlin’ girl. :)
Y’all please take a minute to get to know Rachel and don’t forget to answer the questions she has for you! If you would like to be featured in Woman Beside the Man, simply send an email to womanbesidetheman@gmail.com and you will receive instructions on how to do so.
1. Please share your Real Name and Blog Name:
My name is Rachel and my blog name is The Hinton Home.
2. In what area/areas of ministry do you serve alongside your husband? How long have you been in ministry?
My husband and I have served on staff as the director and assistant director of youth for three years.
3. What is your favorite part of being a ministry wife?
Seeing spiritual progress in our own lives and in the lives of others. I know we’re supposed to walk by faith, but every now and then God gives us a little peek at what He’s doing and it leaves me wide-eyed and gasping for breath. He is so good. I can’t wait for heaven!
4. Describe your personal giftedness. How do you exercise that within the church?
Right now my passion is encouraging teenage girls. We have a weekly Bible study just for them. I help equip them and cheer them on as they seek the Lord, minister to their schools and make tough, scary decisions for Him. Why in the world do I get to do this?!?
5. If you have children, what’s the most embarrassing PK thing they’ve ever done? If you do not have children, have you committed a blunder yourself that you can laugh about now?
When our baby was three weeks old, my husband was preaching in the main service and he couldn’t pass up the chance to introduce her to the congregation. I carried her up on stage for a portion of the message. Just as he was showing her off, her diaper sprung a little leak and she wet her Daddy mid-sermon!
6. What is the single most important piece of advice you would like to offer other ministry wives?
I’m way too new to this whole thing to offer any wisdom of my own, so I’ll pass along something a mentor shared with me. Make sure your husband knows you’re his biggest fan and loudest cheerleader. Our words mean more to them than they let on. What we say can either fan their passion for what they do or it can snuff it right out, so be gentle.
7. Do you have a question about ministry life you’d like answered by those who reading this spotlight?
I have a thousand! But I’ll spare you. :) How do you handle those handful of people who seem bound and determined to create drama in your husband’s ministry area? Not those people who are advising him/giving helpful feedback/voicing legitimate concerns, but those who seem to want to stir up dissension? How do you keep from taking it personally?
8. Where can we visit you on the web? (blog url)
http://thehintonhome.blogspot.com
http://thehintonhome.blogspot.com
Rachel, you are gorgeous! And a (possible) answer to your question is something my husband and I try to remember when we deal with those members who do this….if you are truly doing God’s will, it’s not you who they have a problem with, it’s God.
Blessings to you!
Rachel, the story about your baby peeing on daddy is great!!!
About your question…I think this is hardest thing for me in ministry. Working with youth as well, one tricky thing is the fact that most people who have issues are the parents of the youth you work with. It puts us in a tight spot doesn’t it?! The ones that hurt the most are related to the youth I love the most! I guess that’s why I take it more personally. But I stay quiet for the most part. I step back and let my hubby take the lead. When people approach me with an issue that is touchy, I direct them to him. But when they attack him/me/us on a personal level, it is just hard. Everytime it happens, I look at it…look at myself, my husband, and see if there is ANY truth in it. If there truly isn’t I remember this…
Matthew 5:11 “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you[a] and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.
I have to look to this and other passages often…sorry i am rambling. I am excited to look you up…I love connecting with the others who are crazy enough to work with youth:)
Mariah
What a great and tough question. I’ve always felt that if my husband is doing his job right some people will be happy and some people will be not! There is NO way to please everyone.
I like the verse in 1 Samuel 8 where God tells Samuel “the people are rejecting me, not you…they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And not they are giving you the same treatment.”
And think of all the times Jesus said “people will reject you because of me”
As you said in your advise just keep cheering your mate on. He’ll need it!
This is great! I need to email Rachel and ask her some questions as I work with our high school girls on a weekly basis! I am excited! Thank you, Lisa!! Great job, darlin’ girl! Y’all have a blessed Easter!
Hugs,
Susan
Rachel, you seem to have such a sweet spirit! My husband is the pastor of our church, and there are three people who constantly attack him. Too bad for us, they are the “leaders” – at least, the unspoken leaders. I have cried more during our time here than any other time in my life. But God is so gracious and wonderful. To give another answer to your question, I would like to share what God has taught me, and what my mentor shared with me.
God taught me that I can not do anything to change these people. Any time I would speak up (or out in defense of my hubby), I made matters worse. God showed me the best response is to pray for two things. One, that He would give me a heart of love for those that hurt me and my hubby. Two, that He would give me His eyes to see where they might be hurting. When I started doing that, it made a huge difference in how we were affected by the dissension and hurtful comments.
My mentor shared with me that God loves His bride. Novel idea, huh? But it’s something that I didn’t really think about. God, the Creator, Savior, Redeemer, loves even those that causes problems. He is a loving bridegroom willing to do whatever it takes to protect His bride and give her ample opportunity to be faithful and loving to Him.
I hope your situation isn’t as hurtful as ours has been, and I hope this helps a little!
Many blessings on you and your family.